Module:                                 SOS101 Cultural Anthropology

Programme:                         BA in Political Science and Sociology

Credit Value:                        12

Module Tutor:                       

1. General Objective

 Cultural anthropology is the branch of anthropology that deals with human culture and society. Cultural variation among humans and the influence of globalization on local culture are studied within this discipline. This module will introduce central ideas, theoretical perspectives of cultural anthropology and look at cultural processes and institutions so as to enable the learners to understand the holistic nature of the discipline.

2. Learning Outcomes

 On completion of the module, learners will be able to:

 Trace the history of the discipline and current issues.

• Explain the importance of cultural anthropology in social science
• Recognize the different approaches of cultural anthropology
• Assess the relevance of Anthropology in contemporary Bhutan.
• Compare and Contrast the discipline of Anthropology and Sociology
• Survey different theoretical approaches in Cultural Anthropology
• Recognize different ethnographic field techniques and methods used by

Cultural Anthropologist

• Examine the role of culture in shaping of society, religion, communication, race and politics

3. Learning and teaching approach

4. Assessment approach

Assessments  will  be  carried  out  on  a  continuous  basis  through  the  following assignments:

A. Written assignment: Portion of final mark: 15%

Student will have to write one essays for this module with word limit of 1500 words on an assigned topic. The assignment will be graded on the following criteria:

8% - Content

3%- structure

4%- Language & Reference

B. Oral presentation: Portion of final mark: 10%

Students will choose a topic for class presentation.  Presentation should not be more than 15 minutes long. Presenters will be graded on the following criteria:

2.5% - Delivery

5% - Content and organization

2.5% - Enthusiasm/Audience Awareness

C. Mid-Semester Examination: Portion of final marks: 15%

The exam will be conducted on Week 9. The examination will be combination of multiple-choice, short-answer and essay questions. The exam will be one hour long and with 50 as total marks.

D. End-semester examination: Portion of final marks: 60%

End  semester  examination  will  conducted  after  completing  of  15  weeks  of teaching and learning. Three hour long exam will have questions worth 100 marks. The exam will consist of combinations of multiple-choice, short-answer and essay questions.

Overview of assessment approaches and weighting

Prerequisites: None

5. Subject Matter

5.1.           Unit I Introduction to Anthropology

5.1.1.        Meaning, Scope and Development –Why Anthropology?

5.1.2.       Branches of Anthropology - Social Cultural, Biological, Paleo- Anthropology, Linguistic Anthropology, Ethnography & Ethnology

5.1.3.       Approaches   in   Anthropology   –   Ethnocentrism,   Cultural Relativism& Holism

5.1.4.       The  Founding  fathers  of  Modern  Anthropology  and  their contribution:

5.1.4.1      Franz Boas

5.1.4.2      Bronislaw Malinowski

5.1.4.3      A.R Radcliffe-Brown

5.1.4.4      Marcel Mauss

5.2.           Unit II: Theories in Anthropology

5.2.1.       Classical Evolutionism – how the society evolved?

5.2.2.       Diffusionsim – British vs. German school of thought

5.2.3.    Historical Materialism – material determinism theory of development

5.2.4.       Functionalism  –  use  of  structure  and  its  use  for  social development

5.2.5.       Cultural Materialism–Culture and development

5.2.6.       Symbolic and Interpretive: what is symbolism and Interpretive? How is it used in Anthropology?

5.3.           Unit III: Anthropological Research

5.3.1.       Fieldwork tradition in Anthropology

5.3.2.      Ethnographic Fieldwork – using qualitative and quantitative methods

5.3.3.       Participant Observation – It's  significance in Anthropological Fieldwork

5.4.           Unit IV: Culture, Language & Communication

5.4.1.       Definition, Nature, Characteristics & Functions

5.4.2.   Cultural    Processes:    Enculturation,    Acculturation, Transculturation and diffusion

5.4.3.       Language – Nature, Characteristics, Origin & Importance

5.4.4.       Communication – Verbal & Nonverbal Communication

5.5.           Unit V: Culture & Religion

5.5.1.       Religion – Definition, Nature & Essence

5.5.2.       Salient Features - Prayer, Physiological Exercise, Exhortation, Mana, Taboo, Feasts & Sacrifice

5.5.3.       Forms of Religion – Animism, Animatism, Ancestor Worship, Fetishism, Naturism, Totemism, Monotheism & Polytheism Sacred & Profane – Myth & Ritual

5.5.4.       Religion, Magic & Science; Religious Practitioners - Shaman, Priest, Sorcerers & Witches

5.6.           Unit VI: Culture, Race, Society & Politics

5.6.1.       Race – Definition – Explaining race as a biological construct

5.6.2.       Society – Definition, Nature & Characteristics

5.6.3.       Society,   Culture   and   Man;   Social   Groups   –   Meaning, Characteristics

5.6.4.       Kin based &Non – Kin based group & Descent & Lineage

5.6.5.       Kinship - Consanguinity & Affinity –terminology & Function, Status & Role

5.6.6.       Politics – Meaning & Polity; Types of Political Organization – Centralized & centralized

5.6.7.       Resolution of Conflicts – Peaceful & Violent; Law & Custom

5.7.           Unit VII: Culture, Environment & Change

5.7.1.       Environment   &   Culture   –  the   interrelation;   Adaptation   - Definition & Types of Adaptation

5.7.2.       Subsistence – Hunting & Gathering, Horticulture, Pastoralism and Agriculture

5.7.3.       How & why Culture Changes?

5.7.4.       Processes  of  Cultural  Change  –  Diffusion,  Acculturation, Revolution & Adaptation

5.7.5.       Types of Changes – Social, Political and Economy

6. Reading List

6.1.           Essential reading

Bernard,   H.   (2011).   Research   methods   in   anthropology   qualitative   and quantitative approaches (5th ed.). Lanham: AltaMira Press.

Geertz, C. (1973). The interpretation of cultures: Selected essays. New York: Basic Books.

Schultz, E. A., & Lavenda, R. H. (2005). Cultural Anthropology: A Perspective on the Human Condition, 6th Ed. New York: Oxford University Press.

Havilland,   W.   A.,   &   etal.      (2008).   Cultural   Anthropology:   The   Human Challengehttp://www.amazon.com/Cultural-Anthropology-Challenge-William- Haviland/dp/0495095613/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223272375&sr=8-1

Lavenda, R. H., & Schultz, E. A. (2008). Anthropology: What Does It Mean to Be Human. New York: Oxford University Press.

Turner,  V.  (1969).  The  ritual  process:  Structure  and  anti-structure.  Chicago: Aldine Pub.

Date: December 2015